Pregnant women and 1,200 minors in migrant caravan of 5,000 are granted permits to move freely in Mexico and given shelter as group continues on day six of trek to the US border

  • Africans, Haitians, Central Americans and South Americans are trekking toward the border in a growing caravan
  • The presence of about 1,200 children in the caravan has slowed the progress
  • Mexico's National Institute of Migration said Thursday it will approve humanitarian visitors cards to pregnant women and close to 1,200 minors
  • The cards will allow them to move freely in Mexico and they can enter and leave through the southern border if they wish to 
  • The latest caravan  took off from Tapachula, a city in the Southern Mexico state of Chiapas, on Saturday and reached Escuintla on Thursday
  • The group hopes to make it to Mexico City and seek asylum from the government and a permit that will allow them to transit freely in the country 
  • Univision reported Thursday that doctors have so far treated at least 15 children and 12 adults for pneumonia

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Mexico's National Institute of Migration will be approving humanitarian visitors cards to pregnant women and close to 1,200 minors who are part of an organized caravan of 5,000 migrants that is trekking from Southern Mexico to the United States' border.

The immigration enforcement agency made the announcement Thursday afternoon as the caravan found itself on day six of a 13,000-mile journey to the United States-Mexico border.

The decision comes as children and adults were feeling the effects of the journey, which started Saturday in Tapachula, a city in the southern state of Chiapas that lies across the border from Guatemala.

'Under the principles of respect for the family unit, safeguarding human rights and the best interests of children, the National Migration Institute (INM) ... will grant Visiting Cards for Humanitarian Reasons to pregnant women and minors who make up the caravan of migrants that, according to its organizers, is heading to Mexico City,' National Migration Institute told DailyMail.com in a statement. 

'The (National Migration Institute) reiterates its commitment to respect the human rights of migrants, especially girls, boys and adolescents, pregnant women and the elderly.' 

The visiting card will permit the applicants to travel freely in the country and allow them to leave and return.

A spokesperson with the National Institute of Migration confirmed to DailyMail.com on Thursday that elderly migrants who are in the caravan are in the process of being considered for the humanitarian card. 

After arriving at the southern Mexican town of Villa Comaltitlán on Wednesday, the caravan of 5,000 migrants took off Thursday before dawn to the nearby city of Escuintla, a 10-mile walk, as part of the journey to Mexico City where the group will demand that the government grants the asylum and a permit to freely travel through the country as part of their goal of reaching the United States border

After arriving at the southern Mexican town of Villa Comaltitlán on Wednesday, the caravan of 5,000 migrants took off Thursday before dawn to the nearby city of Escuintla, a 10-mile walk, as part of the journey to Mexico City where the group will demand that the government grants the asylum and a permit to freely travel through the country as part of their goal of reaching the United States border

A woman pours water over the head of a baby as she rests along other migrants taking part in a caravan heading to Mexico City, in Escuintla, Mexico, on Thursday.

A woman pours water over the head of a baby as she rests along other migrants taking part in a caravan heading to Mexico City, in Escuintla, Mexico, on Thursday. 

National Institute of Migration said Thursday it will approve humanitarian visitors cards to pregnant women and close to 1,200 minors who form part of a caravan of 5,000 migrants trekking to the United States border. The cards will allow them to move freely in Mexico and they can enter and leave through the southern border if they wish to.

National Institute of Migration said Thursday it will approve humanitarian visitors cards to pregnant women and close to 1,200 minors who form part of a caravan of 5,000 migrants trekking to the United States border. The cards will allow them to move freely in Mexico and they can enter and leave through the southern border if they wish to. 

Migrants crammed together on the flat bled of a pickup truck as a caravan was traveling through the southern Mexican state of Chiapas on Thursday. The group, about 5,000 in total, was in the middle of a 10-mile trip from Villa Comaltitlán to Escuintla

Migrants crammed together on the flat bled of a pickup truck as a caravan was traveling through the southern Mexican state of Chiapas on Thursday. The group, about 5,000 in total, was in the middle of a 10-mile trip from Villa Comaltitlán to Escuintla

Doctors have so far treated at least 15 children and 12 adults for pneumonia, Univision reported. Doctors and nurses have also been treating migrants for foot injuries caused by the long-distance walks as temperatures have soared past 100 degrees.

Though still significantly smaller than caravans in 2018 and 2019, this is the biggest group moving through southern Mexico since the pandemic started early last year. The caravan's slow movement across Mexico comes as President Joe Biden has been facing increasing criticism over the high levels of migration, which comes amid poverty, widespread violence and growing hunger in Africa, Haiti, Central America and South America.  

The National Institute of Migration said Wednesday that a young boy from El Salvador in Huixtla, Chiapas, was rushed by ambulance to Huixtla General Hospital after he suffered a leg wound from contact with a sharp object.

Two migrant women from Honduras and Cuba were treated for dehydration, dyspnea and heat stroke after falling ill while marching from Huixtla to Villa Comaltitlán.

The group consisting of Africans, Haitians, Central Americans and South Americans left Villa Comaltitlán on Thursday before dawn for a 10-mile foot trek to Escuintla, but their pace has been slightly hampered by the presence of 1,200 minors.

Migrants resume their journey to the United States on Thursday along a highway in Villa Comaltitlán, Chiapas, toward the municipality of Escuintla

Migrants resume their journey to the United States on Thursday along a highway in Villa Comaltitlán, Chiapas, toward the municipality of Escuintla

The majority of the latest caravan are families with young children, according to a witness who saw migrants gathered on Tuesday. According to Univision, 15 children and 12 adults for pneumonia

The majority of the latest caravan are families with young children, according to a witness who saw migrants gathered on Tuesday. According to Univision, 15 children and 12 adults for pneumonia

A migrant who joined a caravan of at least 5,000 people pushes a stroller along the highway toward Escuintla, Chiapas, on Thursday

A migrant who joined a caravan of at least 5,000 people pushes a stroller along the highway toward Escuintla, Chiapas, on Thursday 

Tired of waiting for the Mexican government to legalize their stay in the country, an estimated 2,000 migrants left Chiapa’s southernmost city of Tapachula, which borders with Guatemala, on Saturday.

The anticipated influx comes amid a continued row over migration after President Joe Biden reversed many anti-immigration policies that were set in place by former President Donald Trump, leading to a surge at the borders.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data shows that encounters with migrants for unlawful entry to the United States increased in Trump’s last eight full months in office and continued to swell after Biden stepped into the White House.

While the caravan is challenging to count, it appeared significantly larger when it left Huixtla after a day of rest and its leaders initially estimated its size at 4,000. It reached the town of Villa Comaltitlán on Wednesday.

In Texas, about 1,000 state police officers and Texas Rangers have been assigned to monitor the border, readying to guard against the surge.

A month has passed since Texas state law enforcement agents played a role in preventing some 15,000 migrants - mostly Haitians - from crossing the United States-Mexico border.

A migrant advances through a highway in Villa Comaltitlán, a city in the southern Mexico state of Chiapas, as the caravan was heading to the town of Escuintla on Thursday

A migrant advances through a highway in Villa Comaltitlán, a city in the southern Mexico state of Chiapas, as the caravan was heading to the town of Escuintla on Thursday

migrant caravan since the start of the pandemic heading toward the U.S. border has ballooned up to as many as 5,000 people - including 1,200 minors - in Southern Mexico, with children and adults beginning to feel the effects of the 13,000-mile journey

 migrant caravan since the start of the pandemic heading toward the U.S. border has ballooned up to as many as 5,000 people - including 1,200 minors - in Southern Mexico, with children and adults beginning to feel the effects of the 13,000-mile journey

The current migrant caravan, with as many as 5,000 people from Africa, Haiti, Central American and South American is said to be the biggest in Mexico since the start of the pandemic. Migrants are marching towards Mexico City to appeal to the government for asylum and to seek a permit that will allow to freely transit through the country and reach the U.S. border

The current migrant caravan, with as many as 5,000 people from Africa, Haiti, Central American and South American is said to be the biggest in Mexico since the start of the pandemic. Migrants are marching towards Mexico City to appeal to the government for asylum and to seek a permit that will allow to freely transit through the country and reach the U.S. border

Migrants seeking to reach the United States to obtain asylum from the Biden administration ravel in the back of a trailer towards Mexico City on Thursday

Migrants seeking to reach the United States to obtain asylum from the Biden administration ravel in the back of a trailer towards Mexico City on Thursday

The state troopers and Rangers would be expected to do the same in the coming days, but with this smaller caravan of migrants predominantly led by Central Americans that is marching through southern Mexico toward the United States.

'The caravan is like a magnet, it goes sucking up people, migrants who had been in the towns (of coastal Chiapas) are joining,' said Irineo Mújica, an immigration activist with the organization People without Borders.

One of them was Bayron Zavala, a Nicaraguan migrant, who hearing that the caravan was advancing slowly - got on a bicycle and caught up with them in Huixtla.

He said he would walk with them 'as far as God gives us the strength... if possible, continue to the United States.'

Without any issue, the migrants passed a customs, immigration and military checkpoint where authorities typically seize drugs and look for human smugglers.

'We haven't had any problems with immigration officials. God is opening doors for us,' said Julio Gonzalez, a hopeful Honduran migrant who spent Tuesday night sleeping near a street in Huixtla with his wife and two children under a steady rain.

The biggest migrant caravan since the start of the pandemic is heading towards the US, pictured Wednesday

The biggest migrant caravan since the start of the pandemic is heading towards the US, pictured Wednesday

In January, a caravan left Honduras, but authorities in Guatemala broke it up.

Other groups that have walked out of Tapachula this year have numbered in the hundreds. At least three were were dissolved by Mexican authorities, sometimes with excessive force in late August and early September.

Those groups were composed mostly of Haitian migrants.

The National Guard has not tried to intervene since it attempted to keep the migrants from Tapachula on Saturday. There were scuffles and a child was injured.

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights called on the Mexican government to investigate immigration agents who had beaten a young boy earlier this week. 

'The use of force must be governed by principles of legitimate purpose, absolute necessity, proportionality and progressiveness. The states must investigate, prosecute, punish and fully compensate the #MigrantPeople for violations of their #HumanRights,' the human rights organization said.

Migrants heading in a caravan to the US, walk towards Mexico City to request asylum and refugee status (pictured on Wednesday)

Migrants heading in a caravan to the US, walk towards Mexico City to request asylum and refugee status (pictured on Wednesday)

Foreign Affairs Secretary Marcelo Ebrard said Monday the government would act 'prudently,' respecting the law and human rights.

Mexico has deployed thousands of soldiers, police and immigration agents in the south and in recent years no large groups have made it out of the states bordering Guatemala.

Even so, entire families keep trying. Cristina Romero wants to make it to the United States to seek treatment for her 12-year-old son who suffers from a developmental delay.

The caravan's slow movement across Mexico comes as U.S. President Joe Biden has been facing increasing criticism

The caravan's slow movement across Mexico comes as U.S. President Joe Biden has been facing increasing criticism

The crowd of mostly Central Americans are trekking across southern Mexico but their journey has been hampered by the large number of children in their group

The crowd of mostly Central Americans are trekking across southern Mexico but their journey has been hampered by the large number of children in their group

Migrants rest in a sports court in Villa Comaltitlán as they take part in a caravan heading to Mexico City

Migrants rest in a sports court in Villa Comaltitlán as they take part in a caravan heading to Mexico City

Alison, a four-year-old Honduran girl who is sick with fever, holds a lollypop as her father carries her

Alison, a four-year-old Honduran girl who is sick with fever, holds a lollypop as her father carries her

Biden expands list of places ICE is banned from making arrests 

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas expanded the list of 'sensitive locations' where immigration officers are banned from making arrests. 

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers have long been banned from making arrests in hospital and school settings, but now they will be asked to refrain from doing so at places of worship, places where children gather such as playgrounds, rec centers and bus stops and social service buildings such as domestic violence and homeless shelters.

Officers are also to avoid arrests at public demonstrations such as protests or parades, and during religious or civil ceremonies such as weddings or funerals. 

The guidance also asks agents to reconsider enforcement actions 'near' such protected locations.  

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Romero had applied for asylum in Mexico, but after waiting four months the answer came back negative. 'They told me I could appeal the case, but that it could come out the same,' she said. 'Then I heard about this caravan and I was up for coming.'

In Villa Comaltitlán, some migrants told Reuters they sought to rest before departing early Thursday morning, which was especially important due to the large number of young children with them.

The latest migrant caravan has not yet faced off with Mexican migration agents or soldiers who have increasingly used tough tactics to stem the tide of fleeing migrants, many of whom want to escape violent gangs and grinding joblessness back home.

The United States has registered record levels of migration this year, as border agents have apprehended or expelled more than 1.7 million migrants over the past 12 months.

The majority of the latest caravan are families with young children, according to a witness who saw migrants gathered on Tuesday.

Among them was Arleth Chavez from Guatemala, who had walked with the caravan for about 28 miles since it departed the southern border city of Tapachula over the weekend.

'My feet are burning and in pain from the blisters,' said Chavez, who nonetheless expressed a determination to continue.

Migrants have denounced the lengthy asylum process in Tapachula, located near Mexico's border with Guatemala, and thousands have departed the city in a series of caravans this year, including many Haitians.

Mexico's immigration agency INM said in a statement on Wednesday that some families in the caravan had asked to be returned to Tapachula, but did not provide numbers.

Many members of the caravan aim to reach Mexico City, where they hope the asylum process might be faster, while others say they seek to make it to the United States.

The U.S. government has put pressure on Mexico to contain migrants before reaching the U.S. border, and Mexican authorities have obliged by beefing up patrols

Though still significantly smaller than caravans in 2018 and 2019, this is the biggest group moving through southern Mexico since the pandemic started early last year

Though still significantly smaller than caravans in 2018 and 2019, this is the biggest group moving through southern Mexico since the pandemic started early last year

About 2,000 migrants had walked out of the southern city of Tapachula near the Guatemala border on Saturday

About 2,000 migrants had walked out of the southern city of Tapachula near the Guatemala border on Saturday

While the multitude is challenging to count, it appeared significantly larger when it left Huixtla (pictured) after a day of rest

While the multitude is challenging to count, it appeared significantly larger when it left Huixtla (pictured) after a day of rest

This caravan is primarily made up of Central Americans and departed from the Mexican municipality of Tapachula

This caravan is primarily made up of Central Americans and departed from the Mexican municipality of Tapachula

The latest migrant caravan has not yet faced off with Mexican migration agents or soldiers

The latest migrant caravan has not yet faced off with Mexican migration agents or soldiers

The United States has registered record levels of migration this year, as border agents have apprehended or expelled more than 1.7 million migrants

The United States has registered record levels of migration this year, as border agents have apprehended or expelled more than 1.7 million migrants